Earning points in every event except the quarter-mile drag, Rocky Rowland's '36 GMC surprised all of us. It may look unassuming in its original green and brown patina, but with a heavily customized frame, trick coilover suspension, and feather-light 1,850-pound weight it screamed through the corners. Even with Sumitomo street tires and a relatively stock 5.3L V-8, Rocky was able to propel the GMC to a Fourth Place finish in autocross and slalom events, and a Fifth Place finish in the speed stop. As if this wasn't enough, the rat rod's distinctive style also became a crowd favorite, taking Second Place in our show-and-shine competition and winning Holley's trophy for Best Pre-1946 Hot Rod at LS Fest. Best of all, Rocky built the truck almost entirely in his garage, proving that you don't need big bucks or a fancy shop to go fast.

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| In addition to having the coolest name of the group, Rocky Rowland proved to be a serious contender on the track in his '39 GMC. The rusty rat rod earned podiums in every event except the quarter-mile, showing that reduced weight can be a huge advantage.